Carrier-grade peer-to-peer (p2p) network, system and method

ABSTRACT

A computing network, including: a plurality of peer computing devices including code, which when executed by a peer computing device causes the executing peer computing device to cooperate with at least one other of the peer computing devices; at least one server including code, which when executed by the at least one server locates at least one of the peer computing devices; and at least one mediator including code, which when executed by the at least on mediator collects information from at least some of the peer computing devices; wherein, the peer computing devices, at least one sever and at least one mediator are communicatively coupled via an at least carrier-grade telecommunications network being suitable for enhancing co-operation among the cooperating ones of the peer computing devices relative to best-efforts communications among the cooperating ones of the peer computing devices.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to networking, and moreparticularly to carrier-grade Peer-to-Peer (P2P) networking.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A fundamental principle behind Peer-to-Peer (P2P) network architecturesis that application server functions offered by the network aretypically implemented by a large number of distributed and autonomousnetwork nodes and end nodes called peers, which collaborate with eachother to accomplish the designated tasks. In a P2P-based networkarchitecture, each peer typically provides server-like functionality andservices as well as being a client within the system. In this way, theservices or resources that would be provided by a centralized entity areinstead available from the peers of the system. Such an arrangement isin contrast with a traditional client-server architecture (e.g., apublic switched telephone network (PSTN) or IP multimedia subsystem(IMS)), in which a large number of clients communicate only with a smallnumber of centralized, tightly managed servers responsible forperforming designated tasks.

P2P applications have posed an increasing challenge fortelecommunications operators for some time; at least in that P2Papplications may generate tremendous amounts of traffic in thetelecommunications network, resulting in network management problems andincreasing both capital and operating expenditures; and that revenueloss is caused by some P2P applications, such as free or nearly-freeInternet voice services offered by P2P operators. Indeed, P2P trafficmay account for 50 to 90 percent of the total Internet traffic.Accordingly, viral P2P applications may cause significant revenue lossfor telecommunications operators, but demand both capital and operatingexpenditure increases to meet the bandwidth and capacity needs.

Further yet, the use of so-called web 2.0 applications is increasing.Yet, telecommunications operators have largely not reaped significantbenefits from these applications. This may be because currenttelecommunications network architectures are not suitable for Internetapplications in general, and P2P applications in particular.

Telecommunications network operators have typically either discriminatedagainst P2P applications, such as by blocking or delaying P2P traffic,or have not addressed the problem. Another solution is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A computing network, including: a plurality of peer computing devicesincluding code, which when executed by a peer computing device causesthe executing peer computing device to cooperate with at least one otherof the peer computing devices; at least one server including code, whichwhen executed by the at least one server locates at least one of thepeer computing devices; and at least one mediator including code, whichwhen executed by the at least one mediator collects charging informationfrom at least some of the peer computing devices; wherein, the peercomputing devices, at least one server and at least one mediator arecommunicatively coupled via an at least carrier-grade telecommunicationsnetwork being suitable for enhancing cooperation among the cooperatingones of the peer computing devices relative to best-effortscommunications among the cooperating ones of the peer computing devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Understanding of the present invention will be facilitated byconsideration of the following detailed description of the preferredembodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts, andin which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a diagrammatic view of a carrier-grade peer-to-peer(P2P) network according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a diagrammatic view of select messaging correspondingto a dynamic QoS process according to an embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a diagrammatic view of select messaging correspondingto a dynamic QoS process according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

It is to be understood the figures and descriptions of the preferredembodiments of the present invention have been simplified to illustrateelements that are relevant for a clear understanding of the presentinvention, while eliminating, for purposes of clarity, many otherelements found in typical networking and P2P networks, systems andmethods. Because such elements are well known in the art, and becausethey do not facilitate a better understanding of the present invention,a discussion of such elements is not provided herein.

FIG. 1 illustrates a diagrammatic view of a carrier-grade peer-to-peer(P2P) telecommunications network 10 according to an embodiment of thepresent invention. For non-limiting purposes of explanation, acarrier-grade network generally satisfies “carrier-grade” or “carrierclass” requirements indicative of a very high level of reliability.Carrier-grade networks may typically meet or exceed “five nines”availability standards, and provide very fast fault recovery throughredundancy (such as on the order of less than 50 milliseconds). This isin contrast to best-efforts -type communications networks, such as theInternet, where individual links or legs may have analogous service, butend-to-end communications are typically not so ensured.

By way of further non-limiting explanation, a telecommunications networkis generally a network of telecommunications links and nodes arranged sothat messages may be passed from one part of the network to another overmultiple links and/or through various nodes. Telecommunications networkelements are not typically utilized in traditional P2P networks.Instead, traditional P2P networks are generally distributed networks inan ad-hoc format to provide the best-effort services.

According to certain embodiments of the present invention, peer nodesare introduced into a network following at least carrier-gradetelecommunications network practices to ensure quality of services(carrier-grade) are offered by utilizing these, such as pre-existingtelecom network elements. Typical telecommunications elements ofexisting telecommunications networks that may be used may includeAuthorization, Authentication and Accounting (AAA) servers, charginggateways and resource management platforms. According to certainembodiments of the present invention, an underlying carrier-gradetelecommunications network may be utilized to provide P2P networkservices may support best-efforts grade communications acrosscarrier-grade links, but not include best efforts type links itself.According to certain embodiments of the present invention,best-efforts—type or grade and carrier-grade P2P services may beprovided in a common network.

Referring still to FIG. 1, in the illustrated embodiment network 10generally includes: a quality of service (QoS) coordinator 20, aboot-strap server 30, a charging mediator 40, a non-Internet Protocol(IP) interworking (WV) gateway 50, an IP-IW gateway 60, a boot-strappeer 70, a served- and/or serving peer 80, another boot-strap peer 90, acommunications medium 100, and a joining peer 110. An authorization,authentication and online accounting (AAA) server 120, resource manager130 and billing mediation system 220 are communicatively coupled to thenetwork 10. In the illustrated embodiment, network 10 is alsocommunicatively coupled with an IP backbone 190, which includes accessrouter 140, core router(s) 150, and edge router 160. In the illustratedembodiment, IP backbone 190 is communicatively coupled with another IPbackbone 200, which includes edge router 170 and an IP-based servingnetwork 180. In the illustrated embodiment, 1P-based serving network 180is additionally communicatively coupled to IP-IW gateway 60. Finally, inthe illustrated embodiment, non-IP-IW gateway 50 is communicativelycoupled to a non-IP-based serving network 210. It will be apparent tothose skilled in the art that modifications and variations to theparticular elements included, and/or the combination and/orconfiguration and/or number of the elements provided may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

By way of further non-limiting explanation, in certain embodiments ofthe present invention, one or more of the elements provided may take theform of computing devices. “Computing device”, as used herein, refers toa general purpose computing device that includes a processor. Aprocessor generally includes a Central Processing Unit (CPU), such as amicroprocessor. A CPU generally includes an arithmetic logic unit (ALU),which performs arithmetic and logical operations, and a control unit,which extracts instructions (e.g., code) from a computer readablemedium, such as a memory, and decodes and executes them, calling on theALU when necessary. “Memory”, as used herein, generally refers to one ormore devices or media capable of storing data, such as in the form ofchips or drives. Memory may take the form of one or more random-accessmemory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory(PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), or electricallyerasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) chips, by way of furthernon-limiting example only. Memory may take the form of one or moresolid-state, optical or magnetic --based drives, by way of furthernon-limiting example only. Memory may be internal or external to anintegrated unit including the processor. Memory may be internal orexternal to a computing device. Memory may store a computer program,e.g., code or a sequence of instructions being operable by theprocessor. In certain embodiments of the present invention, one or moreof the elements provided may take the form of code being executed usingone or more computing devices, such as in the form of computer deviceexecutable programs or applications being stored in memory.

“Server”, as used herein, generally refers to a computing devicecommunicatively coupled to a network, which manages network resources. Aserver may refer to a discrete computing device, or may refer to anapplication that is managing resources rather than an entire computingdevice. “Network”, as used herein, generally refers to a group of two ormore computing devices communicatively connected to one-another.“Internet”, as used herein, generally refers to the globalinterconnection of computing devices, and computing device networks,commonly referred to as such.

Referring still to FIG. 1, quality of service (QoS) coordinator 20generally serves to check and deliver QoS requests to access a network,such as IP backbone 190. Coordinator 20 may take the form of anapplication function (AF) defined in a Resource and Admission ControlSub-System (RACS) or a policy and charging control (PCC) system.Coordinator 20 may report QoS service charging information to a billingsystem, such as billing mediator server 220 via charging mediator 40.Resource manager 130 may execute and report the results of the responsesto requests of QoS Coordinator 20 and request instructions from QoSCoordinator 20. It may also acquire the underlying IP traffic types byutilizing suitable techniques, such as Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) andtake suitable actions, such as blocking or allowing certain IP trafficflows.

Boot-strap server 30 may take the form of a server used by a peercomputing device (hereinafter referred to as a “peer') to locate a P2Pbootstrap peer and/or to join the P2P network. Bootstrap server 30 maytake the form of a stable host with a domain name service (DNS) name.Bootstrap server 30 may be configured to be able to select itself as abootstrap peer for the purpose of admission efficiency, if it has spareprocessing capacity, for example.

Charging mediator 40 may collect charging information from P2P peers anddeliver billing data to a billing system, such as billing mediatorserver 220. Charging mediator 40 may be P2P-aware. Charging mediator 40may be stateless. Charging mediator 40 may take the form of an off-linecharge platform, such as a sub-system that provides 3rd GenerationPartnership Project (3GPP) charging gateway function (CGF) and/orcharging data function (CDF) functionality.

Non-Internet Protocol (IP) interworking (IW) gateway 50 may performinterworking with other non-IP service networks. Gateway 50 may be aP2P-aware gateway. IP-IW gateway 60 may perform interworking with otherP2P networks or IP-based service networks, Gateway 60 may take the formof a P2P-aware gateway. In certain embodiments of the present invention,gateway functionality may be integrated into P2P peers, for example.

Bootstrap peers 70, 90 may assist a joining peer, such as joining peer110, to join the P2P network. Bootstrap peers may integrate thefunctions of an admitting peer, such as that proposed for P2P SessionInitiation Protocol (P2PSIP) applications, for example. Such an approachmay simplify overall network architecture, for example.

The P2P network to be overlaid on a carrier-grade telecommunicationsnetwork may utilize peer nodes that simultaneously function as both“clients” and “servers” to the other peer nodes on the network. Incertain embodiments of the present invention, served/serving peer 80and/or joining peer 110 may be such a node. As will be understood bythose possessing an ordinary skill in the pertinent arts, this model ofnetwork arrangement differs from the client-server model, wherecommunication is usually to and from a central server. In certainembodiments of the present invention, a client-server structure may beused for some tasks (e.g., searching, authorization) and a P2P structurefor others (e.g., applications).

Communications medium 100 may take the form of a data communicationsnetwork communicatively coupling elements to one-another. In theillustrated embodiment of FIG. 1, medium 100 communicatively couplesquality of service (QoS) coordinator 20, boot-strap server 30, chargingmediator 40, non-Internet Protocol (IP) interworking (IW) gateway 50,IP-IW gateway 60, boot-strap peer 70, served- and/or serving peer 80,boot-strap peer 90 and joining peer 110 to one-another. In certainembodiments of the present invention, medium 100 may take the form of acarrier-grade telecommunications network. In certain embodiments of thepresent invention, such a network may include wired and/or wirelesscommunications links or legs. In certain embodiments of the presentinvention, such a network may include public and/or privatecommunications links or legs.

Authorization, authentication and online accounting (AAA) server 120 mayperform user authentication, authorization and online accounting in ananalogous manner as is performed in conventional carrier-gradetelecommunications networks.

IP backbones 190, 200 may take the form of the major network connectionsof an IP network, such as an IP network communicatively coupled toand/or part of the Internet. Access router 140 may serve to controlaccess traffic for IP backbone 190. Access router 190 may perform QoSenforcement responsively to QoS coordinator 20 and resource manager 130.Core router(s) 150 may serve to perform IP packet routing for IPbackbone 190. Edge routers 160, 170 may serve to perform interworking assecurity gateways with other IP networks. Edge routers 160, 170 may takethe form of IP layer elements without P2P awareness.

In the illustrated embodiment, IP-based serving network 180 iscommunicatively coupled with IP-IW gateway 60. IP serving network 180may take the form of an IP based network that provides next generationnetwork (NGN), IMS and/or P2P services, for example (e.g., acts as adata source and/or sink for peer 80 applications).

In the illustrated embodiment, non-IP-IW gateway 50 is communicativelycoupled with a non-IP-based serving network 210. Non-IP—based servingnetwork 180 may take the form of a non-IP-based network that providesservices, for example (e.g., acts as a data source or sink for P2Papplications), such as a public switched telephone network (PSTN) orPublic Land Mobile Network (PLMN).

Billing mediator server 220 may process billing and/or paymentinformation, and may take the form of a conventional carrier-gradetelecommunications network billing system, for example.

Referring still to FIG. 1, such an approach may advantageously leverageadvantages of both carrier-grade telecommunications and P2P networkarchitectures. Such an approach may enable carrier-gradetelecommunications operators to capture P2P application revenues withoutlosing current telecommunications revenues. Such an approach mayadvantageously provide carrier-grade P2P services in an IP based networkwith limited impact to the telecommunications network architecture andservices. Session control functionalities and many, if not most of theservice applications may be distributed among the peer nodes. In certainembodiments of the present invention, only certain network elements,such as those that provide authentication, QoS control, accounting andservice provisioning, which may be critical to network operation, arekept in the carrier side of network.

Some benefits of such an architecture or approach may include: requiringminimal dedicated network elements while providing great scalability;providing unified customer data management with global reach-ability;providing virtual home environments for customers to enjoy same serviceexperiences from multiple locations; providing a secured communicationenvironment with a trusted network operator; providing Quality ofServices (QoS) as a service to end-users; and providing accesstechnology with an agnostic minimal impact to an IP based bearernetwork.

In certain embodiments of the present invention, certain ones of theprovided network elements may be owned and/or operated by acarrier-grade telecommunications network operator. For example, incertain embodiments of the present invention QoS coordinator 20,boot-strap server 30, charging mediator 40, gateways 50, 60, AAA server120, resource manager 130 and billing mediator server 220 may be ownedand/or operated by a carrier-grade telecommunications network operator.In certain embodiments of the present invention, certain ones of theprovided network elements may not be owned and/or operated by acarrier-grade telecommunications network operator. For example, incertain embodiments of the present invention boot-strap peers 70, 90 andserved/serving peer 80 may not be owned and/or operated by acarrier-grade telecommunications network operator. In such an approach,the P2P network may generally take the form of an overlay network thatprovides P2P applications utilizing underlying IP network elements withminimal new equipment required.

Such an approach may provide for a number of additional advantages, suchas clients being involved with charging. A charging function isconventionally based on the assumption that a terminal or client is notcapable of providing charge information. In certain embodiments of thepresent invention however, peers (e.g., both served and serving peers)who are involved in a service provision, such as a “call” or otherapplication session, may be required to provide certain informationassociated with the service or charge. This information may be providedto charging mediator 40 for validation, for example.

Such an approach may provide for QoS initiation by a client. QoS inconventional architectures is the responsibility of the network and maybe traditionally preset by the operator or pre-subscribed to by users.In certain embodiments of the present invention, P2P application userscan initiate QoS changes dynamically via a client user interface, suchas a web page or application running on a user's computing device.Provided network equipment, such as Broadband Remote Access Servers(BRAS) and routers 140 and resource manager 130 and coordinator 20, mayenforce QoS changes requested by the users or their terminals orcomputing devices.

Such an approach may provide for user authorization and authenticationto be performed using conventional carrier-grade telecommunicationsnetwork AAA servers, which may already be present in a carrier-gradetelecommunications network (e.g., 120). Such an approach may provide twobenefits: first, it can leverage the AAA equipment or network solutionwithout requiring a substantial new investment; and second, it mayenable current network users to use the same credential information toaccess P2P services.

Such an approach may provide for nomadic support. Nomadic support may beprovided in an analogous manner as conventional Internet access, such asby a user accessing the network using the Internet credentialinformation he/she possesses. Such an approach may provide for mobilitysupport using underlying telecommunications network wireless accesstechnologies, for example.

As compared to conventional P2P and carrier-grade telecommunicationsservices, such an approach may serve to deliver the best of both, i.e.,to provide carrier-grade peer-to-peer services with a secure and trustedtelecommunications environment. Such an architecture and approachextends a carrier-grade telecommunications operator's services to theInternet service arena and provides the operator a “tool” to competewith P2P operators and services.

Referring still to FIG. 1, peer admission of joining peer 110 to the P2Poverlay network may be accomplished via coordination among bootstrapserver 30, bootstrap peer 90 and joining peer 110, in a conventionalmanner, for example. A utilized approach may be in accordance with theIETF P2PSIP proposal in principal, for example.

In certain embodiments of the present invention, joining peer 110 maycontact bootstrap server 30 to acquire contact information of a suitablebootstrap peer, e.g., boot strap peer 90. If joining peer 110 knowsabout a bootstrap peer, e.g., the last bootstrap peer it used, thatbootstrap peer may be contacted first. Afterward, joining peer 110 workswith an appropriate bootstrap peer, e.g., boot strap peer 90, tocomplete the joining process. During the joining process, joining peer110, bootstrap server/peer 30/90 and the AAA server 120 may cooperate tovalidate the credential information of joining peer 110, as well asother information, such as the peer location and capabilities, forexample. Other P2P network configuration information may be deliveredafter successful authentication, for example.

In certain embodiments of the present invention, peer authentication maybe performed between joining peer 110 and AAA system 120 via bootstrapserver 30. In certain embodiments of the present invention, theauthentication must be mutual. After successful authentication, anauthorized token signed by AAA system 120 may be passed to joining peer110 and carried in a “JOIN” signaling to bootstrap peers (e.g., 70, 80,90). Information sealed in the token may include, for example, arandomly assigned peer ID, a user ID mapped from the user name, serviceIDs that identifies what services joining peer node 110 is able toprovide, an applicable offline or online charging model, QoS profiles,and timestamp information. Other information may be included in additionto or lieu of these information items. The information may be used bythe P2P network to validate the identity claimed by the joining peer110, the service group it belongs to and/or the QoS level it isauthorized to use, for example.

Charge processing is conventionally the responsibility of the network,because of underlying assumptions of legacy terminals in such networkarchitectures. A P2P network is however based on the expectation thatterminals are computing devices that can record information that can beused for charge and billing purposes, such as the type of service (e.g.,voice, data or multimedia), the duration of services (e.g., includingstart and end timestamps), and the level of QoS for the service, forexample. In certain embodiments of the present invention, charginginformation can not typically rely only upon the service informationprovided by a sole peer, such as a served peer.

In certain embodiments of the present invention, offline charging may beprovided. In certain embodiments of the present invention, for offlinecharging, both serving peers and served peers may be involved inproviding charging information to charging mediator 40, which thenvalidates and consolidates the information for billing purposes (andforwards appropriate information to billing mediator server 220, forexample).

In certain embodiments of the present invention, online charging may beprovided. In certain embodiments of the present invention, for onlinecharging, serving peers (e.g., 80) may require served peers (e.g., 80)to pass certain credits in order to access services, collecting creditunits from the served peer. An online charging system may issue creditunits to served peers, and collect and validate issued credit units fromserving peers. In certain embodiments of the present invention,bootstrap server 30 and/or charging mediator 40 may serve as a proxy forsuch an online charging system, and adapt P2P charging signaling toconventional carrier-grade telecommunications system charging signaling,and vice-a-versa.

In certain embodiments of the present invention, a subscriber or usermay modify the QoS for either traffic originating and/or terminating onthe subscriber's or user's device for any particular session. Referringnow to FIG. 2, there is shown a diagrammatic view of select messagingcorresponding to a dynamic QoS process according to an embodiment of thepresent invention. The embodiment of FIG. 2 includes a serving peer 310,which may be akin to peer 80 (FIG. 1); a served peer 320, which may beakin to peer 80 (FIG. 1); first and second QoS coordinators 330, 340,which each may be akin to QoS coordinator 20 (FIG. 1); a chargingmediator 350, which may be akin to charging mediator 40 (FIG. 1); firstand second resource managers 360, 370, which each may be akin toresource manager 130 (FIG. 1); and IP backbone 380, which may be akin toIP backbone 190 or 200 (FIG. 1). 1P backbone 380 includes first andsecond access routers 382, 384, which each may be akin to access router140 (FIG. 1), and core router(s) 386, which may be akin to corerouter(s) 150 (FIG. 1).

If the user of served peer 320 intends to have better quality ofservices than the default, or that which is then being provided, forexample, he/she may request such a change with serving peer 310 byexchanging messaging 1, such as to determine whether the improvement issupported. If so, served peer 320 and serving peer 310 may send arequest via the client interface to the appropriate QoS coordinator 330,340 by exchanging messaging 2. The charge function of the client mayadvise the user of a new-to-apply charging policy for the betterservice. If the customer agrees upon the charge policy, the terminalsends a better QoS marking for following traffic. Resource managers 360,370, which may take the form of a RACS or PCRF system, and routers 382,384 can enforce the new QoS marking and the QoS for services will thenbe improved. In certain embodiments of the present invention, QoScoordinators 330, 340 may exchange authorization/notification messageswith charging mediator 350 (messaging 3), either to request approval ofthe change, and/or to notify mediator 350 of the change.

In certain embodiments of the present invention, a 3rd GenerationPartnership Project (3GPP) policy, charging and control (PCC)architecture may be used in the access network to provide a chargingfunction. Such a configuration may provide for a corresponding AF tohandle QoS requirements from P2P serving peers, and QoS as a specialservice can be charged.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is also shown a diagrammatic view ofselect messaging corresponding to a dynamic QoS process according to anembodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 shows a high-level messageflow diagram of an embodiment of a dynamic class of service (CoS)process in P2P-based network. A P2P-based next generation networkprovides dynamic class of service (CoS) capability with monetaryrepercussions. For example, the caller or the called party candynamically adjust the differentiated services code point (DSCP), whichhas higher (or lower) fees associated with the connection. A user caninitiate the request, which is then enforced on the network side inorder to prevent CoS theft

In certain embodiments of the present invention, a subscriber may havean ability to modify the CoS for both the traffic originating andterminating on the subscriber for any particular session. If the userintends to have better services, he or she requests better service. Thenetwork in turn advises the user of the new charging policy for thebetter service. Alternatively, the user's computing device may have thecost data to respond to the user's request for higher CoS directly. Ifthe customer agrees upon the better CoS costs, the service quality (CoS)provided to the customer is improved. The user's computing device maycollect data associated with the upgrade in communication quality, suchas session start time and stop time and the upgraded class, for example,for billing purposes. In order to support dynamic CoS, the subscriber orthe user's computing device may establish a new session orcommunications with different billing marking. The network may snoopthose messages (such as SIP messages), or proxy those messages, tomodify the markings, in accordance with the operator's policy andcharging model. Such an approach may be akin to that described incommonly assigned and copending U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/062,404, published as United States Patent Application PublicationNo. 2009/0019156, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporatedby reference as if being set forth in its entirety herein.

Referring again to FIG. 3, in the illustrated embodiment, user A electsto initiate a P2P network application cooperatively with user B bysending a DIAL B message to the carrier-grade network. The carrier-gradetelecommunication network then informs user B of the requestedcooperation via a CALL FROM A message. User B accepts the cooperationrequest by sending an ok to CONNECT message to the carrier-gradenetwork, which then sends an analogous CONNECT message to user A. Therequested cooperative session then proceeds, using a best efforts—typepolicy, for example. Downgrades may be achieved in an analogous manner.

If the user thereafter elects to improve to carrier-grade—type service,from the best-efforts—type service, it may communicate an IMPROVEmessage indicative of the desired improvement to the carrier-gradetelecommunications network. Confirmation CONFIRM messages may then beexchanged between the electing user and the carrier-gradetelecommunications network. Alternatively, confirmation may occur priorto the IMPROVE messaging using the user's device. The requestedcooperative session then proceeds, using a carrier-grade—type policy forexample.

Conventionally, a public switched telephone network (PSTN) or IPmultimedia subsystem (IMS) network offers service via the so-calledsubscriber model. That is, a user subscribes to one or more servicesoffered by the operator and the operator collects charges from thesubscriber for the service it provides.

In addition to or lieu of such an approach, certain embodiments of thepresent invention may use a Service Broker Model (SBM) for P2Papplications. In this model, a user can inject a request to the networkfor one or more certain services he/she wants. The network, acting as abroker, finds the service(s) (from other peers that offer theservice(s)) requested within the network and deliver the service(s) tothe user. The charging method for compensating the service provided bythe network may be defined by the operator.

There can be several variations of the SBM. One is that the networkinforms the user of the contact information of the service providers. Inthis case, the network acts as a “yellow pages” of sorts. Operators mayelect to provide such “yellow pages” in a static way or through a searchengine service, for example. This model may be particularly well-suitedfor certain Internet applications, such as content sharing, and media(e.g., music or movie) downloading. Another model is that the operatoritself acts as a proxy on behalf of service providers to provideservices. This may be advantageous for certain telecommunicationsapplications, such as audio/video calls, and/or audio/video conferences,for example.

Fundamentally different from the IMS service broker model (SCIM), wherethe services have to be offered by the operator via an ApplicationServer (AS) and a user has to pre-subscribe the service in the homesubscriber server (HSS), the user in either of these SBM models does nothave to pre-subscribe to the services he or she is provided. With theservice broker model, services can be added or removed with littleinvolvement of the networking equipment. Many Internet services, such asadvertisement, content sharing or distribution, work collaboration,music and video download, for example, can be offered by this approach.Service providers can be the same as the access network provider, thecore network provider, or 3rd parties, such as peers. This givescarrier-grade telecommunications system operators great flexibilities tooffer innovative services.

Telecommunications networks are migrating toward all IP based networks,which provide excellent opportunities for telecommunications andInternet convergence. Increasing interests in embedded voice, instantmessaging (IM) functionalities within many online shopping sites and theintegration of Internet Customer Relations Management (CRM) and logisticprocess with Voice over IP (VoIP) evidence such convergence. Theconvergence may be able to be implemented by P2P applications with muchless effort than what can be done using traditional telecommunicationsapproaches. Indeed, telecommunications operators are uniquely positionedto offer converged services, such as carrier-grade P2P services. Theyhave brand names trusted by customers; they can easily bundle the P2Pservices with more conventional telecommunications services; and, theycan unify the authentication for both telecommunications and P2Pservices. Besides reclaiming revenues lost to P2P competitors, offeringP2P services is also a good starting point for an operator to leveragecontent delivery and advertising market shares.

The approach described herein is believed to be a practical way forcarrier-grade telecommunications network operators to deploy P2Pservices with minimum investment, while continuing to serve its currenttelecommunications users. This approach also may lead toward greaterconvergence of telecommunications and P2P networks.

In certain embodiments of the present invention, a network architecturethat combines P2P devices with existing IP network infrastructures todeliver P2P services and telecommunications services may be provided.P2P services and existing service may co-exist on the same IP network.Existing network elements can be shared by a P2P network. Peerauthorization and authentication mechanisms may be performed jointly bya joining peer, a bootstrap server and the authorization andauthentication (AA) server, such as AAA server. Digital secure tokensmay be used to indicate authorization and authentication. Tokens mayinclude randomly assigned peer ID, the user ID mapped from the username, the service IDs that identify what services this joining peer nodeis able to provide, the service group the peer belongs to, offline oronline charging model, QoS profiles, and timestamp, for example. Usingoffline and online charging, charging devices conforming to 3GPP, 3GPP2and/or TISPAN standards may be used. A charging mediator may be used toconvert P2P charging signaling to conventional charging signaling, andvice-a-versa. Bootstrap servers may serve as such mediators. To preventcharging fraud for P2P services, both serving peers and served peers maybe involved in providing charging information to a charging mediator,which then validates and consolidates the information for charging andbilling purpose. An online charging or credit mechanism for P2Pservices; where a serving peer requires the served peer to pass certaincredits in order to access services, and collects credit units from theserved peer, may be provided. An existing or new online charging systemmay issue credit units to the served peer, and collect and validateissued credit units from the serving peer.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications andvariations may be made in the apparatus and process of the presentinvention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.It is intended that the present invention cover the modification andvariations of this invention provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

1. A computing network, comprising: a plurality of peer computingdevices comprising code, which when executed by a peer computing devicecauses the executing peer computing device to cooperate with at leastone other of the peer computing devices; at least one server comprisingcode, which when executed by the at least one server locates at leastone of the peer computing devices; and at least one mediator comprisingcode, which when executed by the at least one mediator collects charginginformation from at least some of the peer computing devices; wherein,the peer computing devices, at least one server and at least onemediator are communicatively coupled via an at least carrier-gradetelecommunications network being suitable for enhancing cooperationamong the cooperating ones of the peer computing devices relative tobest-efforts communications among the cooperating ones of the peercomputing devices.
 2. The network of claim 1, wherein the at least onemediator comprises code, which when executed by the at least onemediator collects charging information from at least one of thecooperating ones of the peer computing devices.
 3. The network of claim1, wherein the at least one mediator delivers information indicative ofthe collected charging information to a billing system corresponding tothe carrier-grade telecommunications network.
 4. The network of claim 1,wherein the carrier-grade telecommunications network comprises wirelesslinks between ones of the peer computing devices.
 5. The network ofclaim 1, wherein the carrier-grade telecommunications network comprisesan IP based network.
 6. The network of claim 5, further comprising: atleast one IP interworking gateway communicatively coupled to at leastone-other IP based network and comprising code, which when executed bythe at least one IP interworking gateway causes the executing IPinterworking gateway to cooperate with at least one of the peercomputing devices; wherein, the IP interworking gateway iscommunicatively coupled via the at least carrier-gradetelecommunications network to the peer computing devices.
 7. The networkof claim 5, further comprising an non-IP interworking gatewaycommunicatively coupled to at least one-other non-IP based network andcomprising code, which when executed by the at least one non-IPinterworking gateway causes the executing non-IP interworking gateway tocooperate with at least one of the peer computing devices;; wherein, thenon-IP interworking gateway is communicatively coupled via the at leastcarrier-grade telecommunications network to the peer computing devices.8. The network of claim 1, further comprising a user authentication andauthorization computing device communicatively coupled to the at leastone charging mediator and comprising code, which when executed by theauthentication and authorization computing device authorizes peercomputing devices.
 9. The network of claim 8, wherein the userauthentication and authorization computing device is also an accountingcomputing device.
 10. The network of claim 8, wherein the userauthentication and authorization computing device provides a digitaltoken, wherein at least some of the peer computing devices determine atleast one of: what services at least one of the cooperating peercomputing devices is able to provide, and the service group the at leastone of the cooperating peer computing devices belongs to, responsivelyto receipt of the digital token.
 11. The network of claim 1, wherein atleast one of the cooperating ones of the peer computing devicescomprises code, which when executed by the at least one cooperating peercomputing device causes the at least one cooperating peer computingdevice to request a class of service change.
 12. The network of claim11, wherein for the requesting at least one cooperating peer computingdevice, the carrier-grade telecommunications network selectivelyprovides best-efforts communications prior to the class of servicechange request, and carrier-grade communications after the class ofservice change request.
 13. The network of claim 12, further comprisinga quality of service coordinator communicatively coupled to thecarrier-grade telecommunications network, and comprising code, whichwhen executed by the at least one quality of service coordinator causesthe at least one quality of service coordinator to cause thecarrier-grade telecommunications network to selectively providebest-efforts grade communications prior to the class of service changerequest, and carrier-grade communications after the class of servicechange request.
 14. The network of claim 1, wherein the at least onemediator code collected charging information is associated with servicerequests from ones of the cooperating peer computing devices.
 15. Thenetwork of claim 1, wherein the at least one mediator code collectedcharging information is associated with services provided by ones of thecooperating peer computing devices.
 16. A computer program product beingtangibly embodied in at least one computer-readable medium andcomprising computing device executable code for use with an at leastcarrier-grade telecommunications network, said code comprising: code forcausing at least some of a plurality of peer computing devices tocooperate with one another over the at least carrier-gradetelecommunications network to provide at least carrier-gradetelecommunications network native peer-to-peer application support; and,code for collecting charging information from at least some of thecooperating ones of the peer computing devices and providing dataindicative of at least a portion of the collected charging informationto a billing system associated with the at least carrier-gradetelecommunications network.
 17. The computer program product of claim16, wherein the code further comprises code for receiving a quality ofservice change request from at least one of the cooperating peercomputing devices, and modifying a class of service associated with theat least one of the cooperating peer computing devices responsively tothe received request.
 18. The computer program product of claim 16,wherein the code further comprises: code for receiving a quality ofservice change request from at least one of the cooperating peercomputing devices; and, code for causing the at least carrier-gradetelecommunications network to selectively provide best-efforts gradecommunications prior to the class of service change request, andcarrier-grade communications after the class of service change request.19. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the code furthercomprises: code for receiving a quality of service change request fromat least one of the cooperating peer computing devices; and, code forcausing the at least carrier-grade telecommunications network toselectively provide best-efforts grade communications after the class ofservice change request, and carrier-grade communications prior the classof service change request.
 20. The computer program product of claim 16,wherein the data indicative of at least a portion of the collectedcharging information communicated to the billing system associated withthe at least carrier-grade telecommunications network is associated witha service broker model.